Automatic car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. D. MAJORS.

AUTOMATIC OAR COUPLING.

No. 351,332. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Plv J-Lxflmgmphen Walhingan. D.I;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, J. D. MAJORS.

AUTOMATIC GAR COUPLING. No. 351,332. Patented Oct. 19, 1886'.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

.771 @JSfYhW I v f 71 ATTORNEYS.

' UNITED STATES JOSEPH DANIEL MAJ OBS,

PATENT Fries.

OF BRAGGS, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,332, dated October19, 1886.

Application filed May 25, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J osEPH DANIEL Minions, of Braggs, in the county ofLowndes and State of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Irn provementsin Automatic Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming apart thereof, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improvedcar-coupling. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig.etis an inverted plan view of a portion of a car, showing thearrangement of uncouplinglevers. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thepivotal support of one of the levers. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspectiveviews of the link.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thedifferent figures of the drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic car-coupling whichmay be used in connection with the ordinary couplinglink,

thus enabling a car provided with my improved coupling to be connectedwithout inconvenience with cars having the ordinary link and draw-bar.

My invention consists in a-draw-bar in which is pivoted a spring actedcatch having a nib adapted to engage the coupling link, and in thecombination therewith of chains and levers for disengaging the catchfrom the link when desirable.

The draw-bar A is provided with a flaring mouth, a, and a cavity, b, forreceiving the coupling-link. It is also provided with a recess, c, inwhich is pivoted a catch, B, on the pin d, passing transversely throughthe drawbar. The catch B is provided with a nib, e, which is beveled onits outer surface and concaved on its inner surface, and normally restsacross the cavity Z) and extends downward into a small recess, f, formedin the, draw-bar below, and communicating with the cavity b. The nib eof the catch B is opposite the pivotal pin dof the catch, and the bosssurrounding the pin d bears upon a shoulder, g, at the outer side of therecess 0, thus taking part of the strain from the pin (1.

To the top of the draw-bar A is secured a curved flat spring, 0, bymeans of the tapbolt h. The spring 0 extends over the top of Serial No.203,221. (No model.)

the catch B, and presses upon the upper surface of the catch near itsfree end, the spring being arranged to constantly press the catchdownward into position for engagement with the coupling-link of theadjacent car. The draw-bar A is supported in the usual way by a strap,D, on the car-frame, which permits it to be moved laterally andvertically. The inner end of the draw-bar A is provided with a roundedshank, E, which is received in the hanger F, and is,provided with a nut,i, be bind the hanger. A spiral buffer-spring, G, is placed around theshank E,'between the hanger and the end of the larger part of thedraw-bar.

The free end of the catch B is provided with an eye, j, for receivingthe chain k, which extends over a sheave, l, supported by the carframe,thence backward under the car, where it is connected with two chains, mm, attached to hand-levers a a under the car. The lever n is pivoted inthe side timber, 0, of the carframe, and extends across the framethrough a notch, 19, in the lower edge of the timber o. The end of thelever 7/ projects beyond the timber 0 within easy reach. The lever n ispivoted in a strap, q, secured to the under surface of the timber 0, andbridging the notch 12. The lever it extends through a notch, 2, in theunder surface of the timber 0, and is confined in the notch by a strap,q, extending across the notch and secured to the-under surface of thetimber 0. At the inner end of each notch 19 p is formed a recess, 1. Thelifting of the catch B from the link contained by the draw-bar iseffected by drawing back one or the other of the levers n n, and thecatch B may beretained in a raised position by lifting the lever bywhich it is raised into the notch T.

To the end of the car is pivoted a lever, n, which is connected with thechain It by the chain m By raising the lever n the catch B will beraised and disengaged from the link contained by the draw-bar.

The coupling of adjacent cars is effected automatically by theengagement of the link of one car with the beveled nib e of the catch ofthe adjacent car, the pressure of the link upon the catch causing thecatch to rise and pass over the end of the link.

To permit of employing the draw-bar A in connection with the ordinarylink, in case of injury to the catch B, the draw-bar is provid-. ed witha pin-hole, s, for receiving the ordinary coupling'pin. To adapt thecoupling to cars of different height-s,straight or bent links will beemployed.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is e 1. In an automatic carwcoupling, thecombination, with the draw-bar A, provided with a recess, a, concaveshoulder g, and link-receiving cavity 1), of a catch, B, pivoted in therecess c, and provided with a beveled nib, 6, concaved on its innersurface and the sp ring- 0, secured to the draw-bar and arranged topress the catch B into engagement with the coupling- ]ink, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

2. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the spring-actedcatch B, provided with the eye j, of the chain is, sheave Z, chains inm, and leversn n, oppositely arranged with respect to each other,substautially as herein shown and described. 2 5

3. In an automatic car-coupling, the combination, with the spring=actedcatch B, provided with the eye j, of the chain k, sheave Z,

chains m m, levers n n, oppositely arranged with respect to each other,the straps q q, and 0 JOSEPH D. MAJORS.

Witnesses:

R. O. SIMPsoN, E. HJFrrOH.

